The Oklahoma City University Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a proposal for its law school to move downtown into the former Central High School.

The former Central High School and new OCU law school is at 800 N Harvey in downtown Oklahoma City.

“The law school has been looking for an ideal downtown location for its students for several years,” said Dean Valerie K. Couch. “This magnificent building came to our attention and it ignited our imagination. Here we will be able to build new and dynamic connections with the legal and business community and contribute to the growth and progress of this great city of ours.”

The law school's purchase offer was accepted in early September and a 60-day due diligence period began, which allowed time to ensure the purchase was feasible from a physical and financial standpoint. A task force of law school faculty, staff, students and administrators was assembled to assist with assessing the feasibility of a move. The purchase price was not disclosed by OCU.

OCU officials are planning for renovations to make the building suitable for law school usage. The building currently houses offices for American Farmers and Ranchers Mutual Insurance Co.

The university will begin planning the logistics of the move in the coming months, with hopes of opening for classes at the downtown location by fall of 2014. Law students, faculty and staff would occupy most of the building, with enough space to also house the clinical programs, law review and the law library.

OCU Trustee Chairman Ron Norick said he estimates that with renovations set to cost about $8 million, and with the acquisition cost and furnishings, the total project cost will range between $20 million and $22 million.

Once the renovations are complete, the stadium-seating classrooms will be on the fourth floor, student lounges and a food court will be on the third floor, the law library will be on the second floor, and administrative offices, cafeteria, the Innocence Project and the Native American Law Center will be on the first floor.

The Central High building was subject to intense bidding earlier this year by OCU and Oklahoma City Public Schools, which wanted the building for its administrative headquarters. The historic Gothic-style building at 800 N Harvey Ave. was constructed in 1910 and is on the National Register of Historic Buildings.

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Steve Lackmeyer is a reporter and columnist who started his career at The Oklahoman in 1990. Since then, he has won numerous awards for his coverage, which included the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the city's Metropolitan...